Substance abuse among Grand Junction High School students, driven by peer pressure and stress, raises concerns about their health and future.

Substance abuse among high school students at GJHS is a persistent issue with significant implications for their health, academic performance and future prospects. Recent studies, according to the American Psychological Association, indicate a concerning trend in the use of drugs, alcohol and tobacco among adolescents.

Peer pressure is identified as one of the main reasons young people turn to substances. According to the www.mesacounty.us, in Mesa County, high schools have been abusing substances like vaping and marijuana use, fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills, tobacco and e-cigarettes. 

But it goes much farther. Whether they want to relieve stress or maybe it’s because their friends will think they’re boring. GJHS sophomore Vanesaa Nelson said she sees students participating in these activities.

“It’s not worth messing up your future, your health or your friendships for something that feels good only for a little while. There are way better ways to deal with stress and have fun,” said Nelson.

The demanding environment of high school, where social pressures and academic expectations often intertwine, can unfortunately lead some students to experiment with different substances.

Beyond that, students grapple with many internal struggles such as anxiety or depression and the overwhelming stress of coursework and future planning – the temptation to self-medicate with these drugs increases among students.

GJHS teen choices teacher Kacey Jackson covered substance abuse topics and did a unit on substance abuse. During that unit, she taught her class about where she covered a major substance abuse.  

Editor’s Note: Brielle Johnson is currently enrolled in the Reporting class.